Green Flash Handicap to be Breeders' Cup tryout for Gregorian Chant
ARCADIA, Calif. – Gregorian Chant, a two-time stakes winner who finished seventh in his Grade 1 debut in the $400,000 Jaipur Stakes at Belmont Park last Saturday, will not race again until the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 22.
The $100,000 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf will largely determine Gregorian Chant’s autumn campaign.
“It will be a nice trial race to see if the distance suits him for a possible Breeders’ Cup run,” trainer Phil D’Amato said.
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The $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint will be run at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6. Earlier this year, Gregorian Chant won three times at six furlongs on turf at Santa Anita, including the restricted Clocker’s Corner Stakes on Jan. 24 and the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes on March 13.
Gregorian Chant won those races from off the pace. In the Jaipur Stakes at six furlongs on turf, jockey Luis Saez had Gregorian Chant within a half-length of pacesetter and even-money favorite Bound for Nowhere, who finished third behind race winner Casa Creed. Gregorian Chant faded to lose by 4 1/4 lengths.
D’Amato has runners in several leading turf stakes in Southern California in coming months.
The stakes winners Acclimate and Red King are scheduled to start in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on June 19, a race they both have won. Acclimate won the 2019 San Juan Capistrano, while Red King won last year.
The same day, Cargo is a candidate for the $150,000 Snow Chief Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
Leggs Galore, a three-time winner of stakes for California-bred fillies and mares on turf this year, will have her graded stakes debut in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes at a mile on turf on June 20, closing day of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.
The graded stakes winners Count Again and Say the Word are being prepared for the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on July 24, D’Amato said.